Selling clients on the environmental benefits—rather than the added value—of green homes is akin to asking them to write a check for charity. That wake-up call was delivered in a Greenbuild education session by Kathy Spence, LEED AP and marketing and sustainability director for Charlotte, N.C.-based Banister Homes. In the session, Spence discussed how to show clients that a sustainable home can save them money and improve their lives. » Read more: 4 Green Features Customers Want – EcoHome Magazine
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4 Green Features Customers Want – EcoHome Magazine
November 28th, 2011Bipartisan Bill Introduced in the U.S. Senate to Account for Energy Costs in Mortgage Underwriting
October 26th, 2011
U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) introduced a bipartisan bill that would enable better mortgage underwriting, reflect the value of energy performance in the appraisal, encourage investments in energy efficient homebuilding and create more than 80,000 construction jobs.
Under the Sensible Accounting to Value Energy (SAVE) Act, federal mortgage loan agencies would consider a homeowner’s expected energy costs when determining the homeowner’s ability to make monthly mortgage payments. » Read more: Bipartisan Bill Introduced in the U.S. Senate to Account for Energy Costs in Mortgage Underwriting
Gaining Fair Green Home Appraisals Sees Major Headway in New Appraisal Form
October 25th, 2011Representing major headway in gaining fair appraisals for green homes, the Appraisal Institute has introduced a new form to help analyze values of energy-efficient home features.
The first of its kind, the three-page Residential Green and Energy Efficient Appraisal Addendum is intended to be used by appraisers and is designed to be attached as an optional addendum to Fannie Mae Form 1004, the appraisal industry’s most widely used form for lending purposes. » Read more: Gaining Fair Green Home Appraisals Sees Major Headway in New Appraisal Form
An Air Conditioner Sizing Benchmark for High Performance Homes
September 21st, 2011Posted by Allison Bailes on Wed, Sep 21, 2011
One of the most frustrating parts of my job as a Home Energy Rating (HERS) provider is dealing with the size of air conditioners installed in ENERGY STAR homes. My frustration has spilled over here in the Energy Vanguard blog several times, and the topic in all its manifestations (HVAC sizing, Manual J load calculations, the HVAC industry…) has been one of my favorites to write about. I’ve got an idea of how to make things better now, though.
The Importance of Air Sealing in Remodeling
July 19th, 2011(Editorial Note: This is a very interesting perspective about the ongoing discussion in the market about the divergance between the Energy Star brand and the HERS Index. The story is someone else’s observation of the subject and, as such, is not necessarily the opinion or policy stand point of Green Built Texas and/or the HBA of Greater Dallas)
Whenever I see an older home being remodeled, especially if it’s an extensive renovation, I always wonder if the homeowners and the contractor know what a great opportunity they have to make the house tighter. Whether they’re opening up walls or adding new ones, working in the attic, the basement, or the crawl space, air-sealing should be part of the scope of work. (read the full article at energyvanguard.com)
Interesting Observation on ENERGY STAR Version 3 vs. the HERS Index
July 19th, 2011(Editorial Note: This is a very interesting perspective about the ongoing discussion in the market about the divergance between the Energy Star brand and the HERS Index. The story is someone else’s observation of the subject and, as such, is not necessarily the opinion or policy stand point of Green Built Texas and/or the HBA of Greater Dallas)
I’m not on the board or staff of RESNET or the EPA’s ENERGY STAR new homes program, so I’m not privy to the discussions they’ve been having. It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall at the meetings where those two groups discuss what’s happening during the rollout of and transition to ENERGY STAR Version 3. I’ve noticed an interesting jockeying for position between the two organizations lately. (read the full article at energyvanguard.com)
It’s time to pull back the curtain to look at the algorithms used to come up with a HERS Index score
June 15th, 2011How Is a Home’s HERS Index Calculated?
It’s like golf — the lower the score, the better.
Anyone involved with the Energy Star Homes program has probably heard of the HERS Index, a method of scoring the energy efficiency of a new or existing home. A Web page maintained by the state of Arkansas, for example, explains that the “EPA requires a house qualifying for Energy Star to be built with best practices, tight ducts, and at least 15% more energy efficient than code as shown by a HERS Index score of 85 or less as determined by a HERS Rater.” (read full article at GreenBuildingAdvisor.com)
Survey Finds Consumers Define ‘Green’ Home as Saving Energy and Water
June 15th, 2011A recent survey from Whirlpool Corporation and Habitat for Humanity found that 34% of consumers label a home as green if it reduces energy and/or water consumption and another 23% consider a home to be green if green features and materials are present throughout the entire property. » Read more: Survey Finds Consumers Define ‘Green’ Home as Saving Energy and Water
Appraisers Making Headway in Recognizing Value of Green Home Features
May 17th, 2011The continuing effort to provide recognition for the added value of energy-saving and other green features in homes will take another step forward around mid-summer when the Appraisal Institute is expected to add a green and energy addendum to its appraisal report form.
Green builders have been waging an uphill battle in recent years to convince the lending community to recognize the difference between homes that are just built to code and those that incorporate techniques, systems and products that can dramatically reduce monthly utility costs, which represent a significant expense for home owners.
Read more in this article from the National Association of Home Builders.
Green Built Texas Member Featured in Local News Story
May 11th, 2011Safe Rooms in Demand After Killer Storms
Ferrier Custom Homes, a Green Built Texas Member, was recently featured in a news story from local station WFAA. Check out the online video of the story.
Are you a Green Built Texas member that has been featured in the news or recently won an award for your green practices or design, let us know by contacting Phil Crone at phil.crone@dallasbuilders.com.
